UFC 171 Play-by-Play: Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler

Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler

Round 1: Hendricks lands first with an outside leg kick. Lawler presses forward and lands left hands. He lands a knee and moves away. Lawler checks a leg kick. Hendricks steps in with a left hand. Hendricks inches forward. Hendricks closes the distance. Lawler lands a left hand as he does. Hendricks presses Lawler against the cage and delivers knees to the thigh. Hendricks lands a left hand on the break. Lawler moves in wtih a right hand. Hendricks drives forward looking for a takedown. Hendricks lands a knee followed by a left hand and backs away. He lands an outside leg kick. Hendricks lands an inside leg kick. He paws with his jab. Hendricks lands a combination. Lawler responds with a stiff jab. Lawler lands his jab. Hendricks presses forward with a combination. Hendricks is throwing a lot of kicks. Hendricks presses forward and works to get the fight to the ground. He presses Lawler against the cage. Hendricks lands a knee to the leg of Lawler. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores it 10-9 for Hendricks.

Round 2: They meet in the middle of the octagon. Hendricks moving forward as Lawler circles on the outside. Lawler lands a left hand. The crowd chants, “Robbie, Robbie…” Lawler lands his jab. Hendricks rushes in. He lands a left hand followed by a hard leg kick. Hendricks pawing with his jab. He moves in with a knee to the body followed by a leg kick. Lawler moves forward. Hendricks hits him with a left hand. Hendricks is mixing it up well. Lawler lands a left hand. Hendricks continues to land leg kicks. Lawler lands a strong right hand. Lawler lands a counter left hand. Hendricks looks for a takedown. Lawler shakes off the attempt. Lawler is bobbing and weaving. Hendricks peppering Lawler with jabs. Lawler presses forward. Lawler glances a high kick off the beard. Hendricks isn’t bothered by it. Hendricks lands a right hand. The round ends. Lawler lands a left hook at the bell. MMAWeekly scores it 10-9 for Hendricks.

Round 3: Lawler comes out more aggressive to start the third round. He lands a leg kick. They exchange leg kicks. Lawler lands an outside leg kick. Hendricks is standing right in front of Lawler. He lands a leg kick. Lawler steps forward with his jab. Hendricks answers with a combination and more leg kicks. Hendricks comes foward with a left hand. Lawler answers with a shot to the body. Lawler lands a left hand that knocks Hendricks back. Lawler continues to pressure. He lands a left hand. Hendricks eats another shot. Lawler lands a combination. Hendricks covers. He’s on wobbly legs. Lawler lands a short right hand. Hendricks changes levels and works for a takedown. Lawler stuffs the attempt. Lawler moving forward. Hendricks lands an outside leg kick. Lawler lands a left hand. Hendricks looks better. He lands a combination. Hendricks lands a knee followed by a jab. Hendricks lands a combination. The pace slows in the closing seconds of the round. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for Lawler.

Round 4: Hendricks paws with his jab. Lawler presses forward. They exchange jabs. Hendricks continues to work leg kicks. Lawler lands a left hand followed by a knee. Hendricks may be hurt. Lawler lands to the body. Hendricks fires back. Lawler is landing much more often. He doubles up on his jab. He lands a combination. Hendricks pushes forward. Lawler lands a counter left hand. Hendricks looks to get the fight to the ground. Lawler stuffs the attempt. Hendricks is cut around his right eye. Lawler goes to the body. They stand toe-to-toe. Hendricks lands a combination. Lawler returns fire with a combination of his own. Lawler clinches and delivers a knee to the body. Hendricks lands a leg kick. Lawler lands a big uppercut. Hendricks returns fire with a combination. Lawler lands a combination as Hendricks moved into the pocket. Lawler is landing his jab regularly. Hendricks’ face is a bloody mess. Lawler lands a left hand and Hendricks counters with a leg kick. Hendricks closes the distance behind a punch and secures a takedown. He lands punches. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for Lawler.

Round 5: Lawler lands a jab to start the final round. Hendricks moving forward. He rushes in and eats a left hand. Lawler is using his jab to keep Hendricks on the outside. Hendricks changes levels and works for a takedown. Lawler defends the attempt. Hendricks drives knees into the thigh of Lawler. He delivers knees to the legs of Lawler inside the clinch. The referee separates them. Lawler inches forward. Hendricks lands an outside leg kick. Lawler continues to land his jab. Hendricks gets a takedown attempt stuffed. Lawler steps in with a combination followed by a right hook. He lands another one. Hendricks fires back and lands a left hand that wobbles Lawler. He lands another left hand. Hendricks lands a lead uppercut followed by a right hand. Lawler circles away. He’s on wobbly legs. Hendricks lands a big left hand. He lands an outside leg kick and drops down and takes Lawler down. He lands right hands to the body. Lawler looks up at the clock which has 33 seconds left on it. Hendricks lands short left hands. Lawler shakes his head. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for Hendricks.

The judges scored the fight for Hendricks by unanimous decision. All three scorecards read 48-47.